Metalwing
I bit back a yawn, staying close to Spottedleaf as we walked.
Hunger gnawed at my stomach, but I couldn't eat. I'd been waiting half a moon to travel to highstones with the medicine cats, and I wasn't about to go ruining my chances of talking to StarClan. Part of the warrior code says you can't eat before sharing tongues with StarClan. I despised that rule, but there was no room for hate now. I was finally going to find out why all these names and figures haunt my dreams.
Spottedleaf had insisted I groom my usually messy, wind-blown fur before we left, and I'd ran my tongue over it so much that it lay sleek against my sides and glimmered in the moonlight.
Runningnose glanced over his shoulder at me, and I winced. I hate ShadowClan. I didn't have a reason to at the time, and I wouldn't until a few sunrises later, but I hadn't known at the time.
My paws were just about ready to fall off by the time we reached the cave in which the moonstone lay. Trying not to pant heavily, I padded into the cave behind Spottedleaf and in front of Barkface, with Runningnose leading and Mudfur taking up the rear.
Spottedleaf had a bit of trouble convincing Bluestar to let me come. She'd said something about "every apprentice has to go before becoming a warrior," and since I'd never gone, I had to now.
"Stay close." Spottedleaf whispered to me, her fluffy tortoiseshell tail slapping me across the face like a wall of low-hanging brambles and moss.
We padded in complete silence, the cave growing narrower and narrower, slowly closing in on us until I was just about ready to yowl in frustration. Finally, the cave opened up into a large room. A tall blue stone sat in the center, radiating a mystic light that lit up the entire cave. The moon was visible though a crack in the roof, shining brilliantly down on the earth.
"Metalwing!" Spottedleaf called, settling down by the brilliant blue stone.
"Come."
I followed, the rest of the cats already lying by the stone, fast asleep. I placed my nose on the cold surface, lay still for a moment, and then passed out.
When I woke up, I was surrounded by starry cats. They dipped their heads in greeting, seeming to move as one unit, their pelts brushing, until a single cat padded forward. I instantly recognized him as the cat who visited me once before. And...
An image flashes through my mind. One of a young twoleg standing over my, holding what look like metal claws in each hand and in his mouth.
"You!" I gasp.
Who?
Who's the twoleg I just though of? And how do I know this cat?
"...You!" I shouted again, only because I couldn't think of anything else to say.
The cat just nodded slowly.
"Edward Elric." he meowed.
"Who the hell is this damn Edward?" I snarled.
"You." the cat replied, backing away from me.
I took a step forward. Somehow I knew that this was the cat stealing my memories. This young tom had the key to my past.
The tom took another step back, but something was odd about the way he did. He didn't look at all afraid. He was larger than me-ARRRRRRRRRRG! I. Am. Not. SMAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!
Anyway, that stupid tom was bigger than me, but he had the strange aura of a medicine cat. But it he wasn't avoiding me myself.
He was avoiding direct contact.
In one swift movement, I launched myself at the cat, pinning him down on the ground. For a brief second, our noses touched, and memories flooded through me. I yowled in pain, unsheathing my claws.
Winry. Roy. Hawkeye. Havok. Granny Pinako. Den. Mother. Mei. Hughes. Alph-
"Stop!" the tom screeched, jerking away.
"Who the fuck was that?" I howled. The boy with the armor! I had to know! Who was-
"That...hurts!" the tom screeched.
I jumped back in alarm. I hadn't even realized I'd been digging my long, smooth claws into his shoulders. Blood and tufts of grey fur were caught between my claws, and there were two gashes on each of the large tom's shoulders.
The tom sighed, then sat up.
"Featherwhisker." he meowed formally, running his tongue over the injuries.
"Huh?" I asked.
"My name is Featherwhisker." he meowed again.
"Er...Metalwing." I meowed, but I knew he already knows.
He sighed again.
"I am willing to bet you will not leave without the answers you seek?" he asked.
I shook my head.
"No."
Featherwhisker sighed.
"You sure sigh a lot..." I muttered.
Featherwhisker started to sigh again, then stopped.
"Edward Elric...Metalwing." he started.
"I will give you your memories back for one day. In exchange for your undying loyalty.
"Equivalent Exchange." I blurted out.
Where the hell did that come from?
Featherwhisker caught himself mid sigh. He then leaned forward, and our noses touched. Pain shot up my spine, thoughts flooding into my mind, and then I blacked out again.